Parents work commitment a factor in child abuse rise - study

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Parents spending long hours at the workplace forced by economic pressure is a factor contributing to the rise in toddler and child abuse cases in the country, according to an academician. Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Fadzil Che Din, former director of the Social Institute of Malaysia, said a study conducted by the institute between 2006 and 2010 found that parents' work commitment necessitated them having to send their children to a child care centre or to depend on a child minder. "This dependence has led to the proliferation of inferior quality child care service, and exploitation by opportunists through illegal centres employing either untrained or inexperienced child minders," he told Bernama. Dr Mohamed Fadzil, who is now deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) of the National Defence University of Malaysia, said the study was based on observation, data from the police and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's helpline, and child abuse cases at hospitals as well as other sources. The Welfare Department recorded 9,474 cases of abused children within three years, with 2,789 in 2009, 3,257 in 2010 and 3,428 in 2011. "Parents who are not particularly concerned about the centre which they sent their child to, as long as the cost was not too high, also contributed to the increase in number of unregistered child care centres," said Mohamed Fadzil. He said registered child care centres charged more because they were required to fulfil the criteria or standard procedure such as location, space, and quality of minders, among others. "But parents felt the cost was a burden to the extent that they are willing to risk the safety of their children," he said. To this end, he advised parents to be more circumspect in their choice of child care centres. -- BERNAMA